Cloth stretcher



D. REINHARD CLOTH STRETCHER Filed A ril 10, 1935 Aug. 20, 1935.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR m W w f ATTORNEYS.

0, 1935- D. REINHARD 2,011,729

CLOTH STRIJT'CHER Filed'April 10, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f INVENTOR ATTORNEYS .end of the frame.

[2,611,729 I CLOTH s'rRE'roHEa David Reinhard; Allentown; Pa assigns to I Arcadia KnittingfMillsflncof Allentpwmlag', 'a 1' corporation ofNewfilork 1 Application A ril 'o, 1935, ears. 15,574 leolaens. (01-. 26- 55) This invention,relates to .cloth stretchersand more. especially to a device for stretching tubular knit goods. r

: ".An object-ofinvention .is an inexpensive;

simple and: efiicientdevice for, stretching tubular knit-goods. 1:

; Other objects, novel features and advantages .ofgthis inventionrwill become. apparent from the following specification and accompanying draw ings; wherein: I 1

ig'Fig; 1 is a perspective vie'wof a device embody ,ingthe invention; Y

":Fig. 2-Lis a plan;view.showing a length of tubular1knitgoods being-stretched; t Fig. 3 i512} Section on the line.3.3. of Fig. 2;

Fig. eis aplan view or a modified form of the .device; .1,

Fig.=51is;a fragmentary elevation,'and

.Figlfb is a 'sectiori onthe line 6--6 of Fig. 4.

A pair of parallel rollers l I and I la, preferably composed of rubber are journalled in opposite sides of a support I2; the rollers being horizon- V tally offset from each other. The left hand roller l I is located at a higher elevation in the support than is the right hand roller II a. Intermeshing gears is are carried by the rollers II and Ila for drivingone from the other.

A spreader Ed consists of a frame formed from c a rod or tubing which is bent into substantially U-shape and has its end portions l5 and I6 bent inwardly to close the U. The frame increases gradually in width from the bowed end thereof to its opposite end. One inturned end I5 is recessed to receive'the other inturned end I6 so as to permit adjustment of the width of the wider The end It is provided with a series of holes l'l' and the end I5 carries a spring latch I8 having one end bent to enter a hole l1 and lock the ends l5 and I6, against relative movement. Near its wider end, the frame is oifset as at I9, so as to pass over the roller II and under the roller Ila, the offset being of proper shape and size to receive the roller I la.

The frame It rests on the roller II and the offset portion extends under the roller I la, the Weight of that portion of the frame to the left of the roller II serving to hold the offset portion up against the roller Ila. In the-use of the stretcher above described, a length of Wet knitted goods G is presented to the bowed end of the frame and is drawn over the frame and off the wide end. In passing over the frame, the knitted goods follow the frame over the roller I I and under the roller I la. From the spreader, the length of goods passes between two finishing rollers the-rollers ll and ,l lahave theirzaxes lying in the same vertical plane, and the roller l l isjo'ur nalled in brackets 23 whicharein turn journalied ;on the shaft of the roller Ila. so thatj'the roller llimay beswung into dotted line position shown in' Fig. 6.11 The roller Ila: is driven from the roller 20. by a belt 22 and the two rollers II and dare rotated in unison by means of the-intermeshing gears I3 carried by said rollers, The frameiof the. spreader 14 is oifset generallysimilar to the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 to 3 but to a greater extent, this being necessitated by reason of the vertical alinement of the rollers II and Ila. The rollers II and Ila are so arranged that when the spreader I4 is in position on them, the wide end of the'spreader lies in horizontal alinement with the passageway between the finishing rolls 29 and 2l.

Latch means 24 are provided for maintaining the rollers II and Ila in the position of vertical alinement shown in Fig. 6. The spreader I4 is assembled with the rollers I I and I la by first releasing the latch means 24, swinging the roller II into the dotted line position shown in Fig. 6, engaging the offset portion of the frame with the roller Ila and then swinging the roller II into-the full line position shown in Fig. 6.

In the use of the device shown in Figs. 4 and .,5, a length of wet knitted goods is drawn over the stretcher I l from the bow end to the wide end and delivered to the finishing rollers 20 and 2I as above described. The frame stretches the goods to a width equal to the widest part of the stretcher and the positive rotation of the rollers II and Ila facilitates the passage of the knited goods.

By this device, tubular knit goods in which shrinking has taken place by reason of treatment with liquid are expeditiously restored to original size. The apparatus is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and is adjustable over different widths of cloth by relative movement of the ends I5 and I6.

It is of course understood that various modifications may be made in the device above described, without in any way departing from the and said frame restingon the-oth'er cylindrical A widthof the frame.

I '5. A stretclier' accor'ding to claim 3 in which saidj cylindrical members comprise rollers "and means are provided for rotatingthefsame in 1. A stretcher for tubular cloth comprisingg a frame' of greater width at one end than at the otherand provided at the wider end with a portion ofiset transversely to theplane of the frame,

and a pairof parallel,cylindricalmernbers, said frame 'being'supported' by one of said members and havingits offset portion receiving the other I -;-and means are provided for rotating the same inlunison.

cylindrical member. I Q v j 2."A stretcher accordingyto claim 1 in which said cylindrical members are rollers, and means" ing au shaped frame having its ends bent inwa rdly toward each other,a pair of parallel cy- '-lindricalniembersarranged in vertical aline- 'me nt', said frame being bent transversely of the plane of its two'sides to pass over'one of said v are provided forrotating the "same in unison,

3 A stretcher for tubular cloth comprisingfaj frame composed of a rod'or tube bentinto 'U shape with its ends turned in toward each other to close v the U, and a' pairof-spaced cylindrical members, said frame having adjacent oneend a portion oifsettransversely to the planeof its".

two sides andlreceiving one cylindrical member member.

- ,4. A Stretcher according ,to claim 3 in-which means are provided fo'r varying the relativeposition of said Iinturned ends to vary the effective V 6. A- stretcher according to c1aim 3 in :which the intiirned ends of "the frame are provided wi'th' meansfor:-varyin'g the irrelative position thereof toadj ust the efiective'. width'of thejframe and the c'ylindrical members comprise rollers and'means are provided-' for eflecting rotation thereof inunison. or v 7f. A" stretcher for tubulariknit cloth compris ing a U-shaped frame'having its ends bent inwardly toward each other; means for fastening said inturned ends together in different lpositions to vary theieffective width of the said frame, and a pair of parallel cylindrical mem- V bers, said frame being bent transversely of the plane of its two sides to pass over one of said 7 cylindrical' members and under the other.

" '8.-A'.ti1bular stretcher accordingto claim -7 V in which said cylindrical l membrs are rollers,

.9.-.A stretcher for tubular knit amen compriscylindrical members and, under the other, and means supporting the upper. member for swinging movement about the axis of the undermem- 'ber i 10. Astretcher according to'claim 9 which 7 b horizontal cylindrical members swinging brackets 'journalled on thelower member landsupporte ing thetupper :member, and' latch' means for maintaining said members invertical alinement, said frame: being bent transversely of the plane of its twosides to pass over one of said cylindricall'mernbers and under the other? i v 12. Astretcher according to claimal'l in which i said cylindrical members are rollers, and means are provided for rotatingthessamekin unison; JDAVlD REINHARD'. 

